Stervende vrouw 1648 - 1650

Samuel van Hoogstraten created this etching, “Stervende vrouw” or “dying woman,” sometime in the 17th century. Van Hoogstraten lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period defined by unprecedented economic prosperity, global trade, and cultural innovation. In this small, intimate etching, we observe a woman on what seems to be her deathbed, surrounded by concerned figures in somber attire. The setting is a simple, humble abode. The cultural norms of the time dictated specific gender roles, with women primarily confined to the domestic sphere, as caregivers. Consider the emotional weight of this scene. The dying woman represents the fragility of life. The surrounding figures, presumably family and community members, reflect the communal aspects of both life and death in 17th-century Dutch society. Van Hoogstraten’s etching freezes a moment of profound human experience, inviting reflection on our shared mortality and the societal structures that shape our individual paths.